Roll adjustment for paper box machines or the like



May 25, 1937.

T. s. FITCH ETT ROLL ADJUSTMENT FOR PAPER BOX MACHINES OR THE LI FiledMay 4, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 T. S. FITCHETT ROLLADJ'USTMENT FOR PAPERBOX MACHINES OR THE LIKE May 25, 1937.-

Filed .May 4, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I May 25, 1937. s c T 2,081,583

ROLL ADJUSTMENT FOR PAPER BOX MACHINES OR THE LIKE Filed May 4, 1956 5Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented May 25, 1937 on TE STATES ROLL ADJUSTMENT FORPAPER BOX MACHINES OR THE LIKE Thomas s. Fitchett, Glen Arm, Md.,assignor to F. X. Hooper Company, 1110., Glen Arm, Md., a corporation ofMaryland Application May 4, 1936, Serial No. 77,736

8 Claims.

The invention relates to treatment of paper in making carton blanks. Forthis purpose double faced corrugated board is generally used though themachine is also adapted for use with other varieties of paper boxmaterial. The invention has particular reference to the adjustment ofthe rollers to accommodate paper of different thicknesses. Due to recentdevelopments in this industry and increased demand, the speed of themachines has been widely increased. In accordance with the presentpractice, the blanks are fed from a pile which sometimes weighs severalhundred pounds and successive feeding of the blanks is accomplished bymeans of a reciprocating device which at the high speeds now used movesat a speed of approximately 1,000 feet per minute. The vibration due tothe rapid reciprocation of the feeding device which is essentially ofconsiderable weight, results in destructive stresses in the frame.

In the machines now in use, the presser rollers and impressioncylinders, generally referred to herein for convenience as presserrollers, have been adjusted to accommodate the different thicknesses ofpaper board by moving their shafts in a vertical direction. The majorityof machines are made for the use of corrugated board. The maximumvariation between the standard thicknesses of board is about so thatthis is the maximum adjustment required with the material. This amountsto adjustment in each direction from the normal center position. Thevertical adjustment of the shafts makes it necessary to provide numerousvertical slots or ways in the frame to accommodate the sliding blocks,carrying the bearings for the shafts thus adjusted. The presence ofthese numerous slots and/ or ways in the side frames results in weaknessof the frames which tends to cause them to fail due to the weightsupported and the heavy vibration of the machine and the intermittentstrain applied to the rollers and hence to the frames by the passing ofsuccessive blanks between the rollers under considerable pressure. Tocompensate for the weakness due to slotting of the frames, these frameswere of excessively heavy construction to give the required strength.

Such machines have always been driven from a single source of powerwhich is transmitted from one roller to another through intermediategears. Usually with the vertical adjustment intermediate gears weremounted on the shafts of the upper and lower rollers and theseintermediate gears were geared to other intermediate gears in order totransmit the power to the successive printing and scoring and slottingrollers and to other lower presser rollers, and on vertical adjustmentof the presser rollers considerable backlash was present. This hasproved harmful, particularly at high speeds.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide for the use of lighterframes which are easier to ship and to handle and less expensive thanthose which were necessary in the previous machines at the same timepermitting the new machines to operate at the increased speeds withoutplacing undue strain on the frame or any of the parts. Another object ofthe invention is to eliminate a number of these intermediate gears sothat at the increased speed there may be less backlash between thevarious gears and between the rollers. Other advantages and objects ofthe invention will be more fully brought out in the description of themachine in connection with the drawings. A copending application, No.57,508, by the present applicant, contains a full description andillustration of a printer slotter. This prior application describes aneccentric adjustment of the presser roller shafts which involves aneccentric motion of the toothed driving gears on these shafts.

The present invention relates particularly to an adjustment of therollers without throwing the roller shafts or the drive gears thereonofi center or moving them from their normal driving position. While theinvention is shown in connection with a printer slotter, it may be usedto advantage in any machine for handling paper board or the like ofdifferent thicknesses, more particularly in making boxes, box blanks andother containers.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a side elevation illustrating fragmentarily so much of aprinter slotter as is believed to be necessary to a full understandingof the features of the invention, particularly the new adjustment of thepresser rollers.

Figure 2 is a vertical section on the axis of an adjustable presserroller, the upper roller and the gears being shown in elevation, theroller shown being a pull roller.

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3, 3 in Figure 3 looking in thedirection of the arrows and showing the eccentric adjustment at one endof the roller.

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4, 4 looking in the direction of thearrows and showing the eccentric adjustment of the shaft and roller atthe other end of the roller.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 2 illustrating a modified form ofadjustment.

Figure 6 is a section on the line 6, 6 in Figure 5, looking in thedirection of the arrows and showing the eccentric roll adjustment at oneend of the roll, the adjustment at the other end of the roll in thisinstance being similar.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, each of which is used to indicatethe same or similar parts in the different figures, the machine as showncomprises side frames l and 2, which are similar to those shown in theprevious application. They support the shafts and rollers in a manner ofarrangement similar to that shown in the previous application except asto the adjustment of the presser rollers, which in combination with theother parts and in detail is the subject of the present invention.

The side frames and 2 are mounted on a base I 3, the sections of theframes i and 2 at the delivery end shown in the present applicationbeing secured to the base. The feeding end sections of said frames, notshown, are preferably slidable as illustrated and described in theprevious application. However, this motion of the front section of theframe and the division of the frame into sections is not material to thepresent invention. The front sections, not shown, are adjusted along thebase 3 by means of a longitudinally moving rack A engaged by a pinion 5mounted on a shaft 6 which rotates in suitable bearings in the frame,the pinion 5 being operated by a hand lever to move the front section.

The sections are locked in operative relation by means of a verticallysliding bolt 8 which engages registering apertures in overlapping lugs9, 9' on the respective frame sections, the bolt being operated by acrank |El energized by hand lever The drawings, Figure 1, show afragment of front printing cylinder I2 driven by a toothed gear l3concentric therewith and secured to the roller or its shaft, not shown,which is mounted in bearings in the front frame sections. The framesections l, 2, carry upper and lower pull rollers I5, M, the lower pullroller It being referred to in a general way as a presser roller. Allthe rollers have, in fact, a pressing action and all may be madeadjustable though it is more convenient to adjust the lower rollers.Side frames 2 also carry printing roller I! which cooperates with apresser roller l8 located beneath the printing roller. The side framesalso carry scoring rollers Hi and 20, the latter being the lower rollerand referred to in a general way as a presser roller. Rearwardly of thescoring rollers are the slotting rollers 2|, 22, the latter being thelower roller and for convenience referred to herein as a presser roller.The pairs of rollers thus catalogued are arranged from the front to therear of the frames I and 2 in the order named, the rearward direction ofthe machine being the direction of feed. These pairs of rollers all havetheir corresponding areas of contact in a single horizontal plane sothat the paper moves through the machine from front to rear which isfrom right to left in Figure l in a horizontal direction, the blanksbeing received, printed, scored and slotted successively in the order inwhich these operations have been named, or any preferred order.

The respective roll shafts and gear shafts are supported at their endsin hearings in the side frames and 2, an exact description except as tothe improved adjustment being regarded as nonessential.

The gear I3 which is secured to the printing roller l2 which is drivenby means of a motor at the forward end of the machine which also drivesthe feed. The driving of roller I2 is accomplished through other gearson the respective rollers. Gear l3 meshes with an intermediate gear 24which drives the upper pull roller 5 meshing the gear 25 securedthereto. This gear in turn meshes with and drives gear 26 secured to thelower pull roller M which is also referred to herein as an adjustablepresser roller. The gear 24 also meshes with and drives the gea 2'! whis secured to the printing roller driving the same. This gear 21 mesheswith and drives the gear 28 secured to the presser roller l8 and hencedrives said presser roller which cooperates with the printing roller IT.The printing roller I1 is supplied with ink by means of inking rollers29. The gear 27 secured to printing roll 1 also drives the intermediategear 36 which meshes with and drives gear 3| secured to the creasing orscoring roller l9. Gear 3| in turn meshes with and drives the gear 32secured to the presser roller 23, which cooperates with scoring rollerl9. Intermediate gear 30 also meshes with a, gear 33 secured to theslotting roller 2|, which gear 33 drives the slotting roller 2|. Gear 33also meshes with a gear 34 secured to the presser roller 22, whichcooperates with slotting roller 2|. The bearings of the respective gearshafts and roller shafts and said shafts are shown at one end in Figure1, but a detailed description thereof is regarded as superfluous.

It will be apparent that the adjustments shown and to be described donot involve weakening of the frame by slotting or otherwise and thatthey are otherwise possessed of important advantages.

The printed, scored and slotted blanks, as they are discharged from therollers l2, Id, IE, IT, l8, i9, 20, 2|, 22, which operate on the blanksin the order named, are received by the conveyor C by which they arecarried to a suitable point of delivery or from which they are moved bythe operator.

As already pointed out, the important featuresof the invention reside inthe roll adjustment and in the combination of the same with the elementsof the printer slotter, obtaining the improved results which are theobjects of the invention, as already pointed out.

Referring now to Figures 2, 3 and 4, the presser roller illustrated andindicated by reference character I4 is also illustrative as to themanner of adjustment, of presser rollers I8, 20, 22, and any and allother rollers in the machine which it may be found desirable to adjustto the thickness of the paper, it being feasible to adjust in this waynot only any and all of the presser rollers but any and all of the upperrollers which cooperate therewith, the adjustment illustrated being,however, confined to the lower roller which is the form in whichapplicant has developed the invention, this being regarded as thepreferred form.

The illustration, Figure 2, shows the pull roller I4, or any rollerwhich it is desired to adjust in accordance with the invention, drivenin continuous rotation during the operation, of the machine by a toothedgear 26 already described. This is secured to the roller shaft 36 towhich the roller I4 is connected to be driven by said shaft in a mannerto be described. The gear 26 is driven by gear 25 on the shaft 35 ofthe. upper pull roller l5, the adjustment being shown in connection withthe lower pull roller or presser roller M in Figure 2 for convenience,as already pointed out. The shaft 36 is shown as mounted to rotate inthe frame I at the right in Figure 2 in a roller or any suitable bearing31 carried in a tubular housing 38 mounted for rotary operations inbearings 39 in the frame I which is suitably apertured to form thisbearing. The tubular housing 38 is provided on the outside of the framewith a toothed gear Ml integral therewith or secured thereto and thisgear is operated to rotate the bearing by means of a pinion 4| on thepinion, shaft 42 also mounted in bearings in the frames and preferablyextending from one frame to the other as does the shaft 35. The shaft 42has a square end 43 engageable by a wrench or hand crank not shown, thesaid square end being outside the guard plate or hood 44 shownfragmentarily in Figure l.

The tubular housing 38 carries on its left end just inside the frame Ian external ball or other suitable bearing 45 for the adjacent end ofthe roller M on which bearing the roller [4 rotates. This ball bearingis eccentric as to the center of the tubular bearing housing 38, theamount of eccentricity being in the present instance preferably about toprovide this amount of adjustment on each side of a normal centerposition, i. e., a total adjustment of which is the difference inthickness between the maximum and minimum standard thicknesses ofcorrugated board, which is the material for treatment of which themachines are most frequently adapted and most extensively used.

The length of the roller I4 and all of the rollers described is in thistype of machine in accordance with standard practice about 110". Theshaft 36 preferably extends the full length of the roller and througheach side frame, this roller l4 and all of the presser rollers beingpreferably hollow or tubular, or having a bore of sufficient diameter toprovide a slight rocking motion of the shaft 36 relatively to theroller, the rocking motion taking place about an axis transverse to theroller axis.

In the form shown the roller I4 is provided preferably at or near itsleft end or end remote from the bearing 45 with an internal disk or hub45 or an equivalent member seated in any suitable manner Within theroller. This member 46 is keyed at 41 to the shaft 35 in such manner asto provide for a slight rocking of the shaft 36 in this instance a swingrelatively to the roller, or vice versa, about an axis transverse to theshaft. The length of the roller is preferably about 110" and the arc ofswing at the end of the roller is about The shaft has at said hub adriving connection to the roller near the end of the roller l4 and theroller is driven through the shaft by the gear 26, the axis of which issubstantially stationary, the gear being supported by the shaft 36 whichis supported in stationary bearings 31 at the side of the gear. Theframe 2 at the left has formed therein a bearing 48 which contains atubular member 49 shown as eccentrically bored at 50. This tubularmember projects on both sides of the frame and is secured againstendwisc motion in the bearing 48 by a collar 5| on the inside of theframe 2 and on the outside it is provided with a toothed gear 52 whichmeshes With a pinion 53 on the pinion shaft 42. The tubular member 49carries at its outer end a ball bearing 54 for the shaft 36 in relationto which the shaft 35 is permitted a slight rocking motion as described,about an axis transverse to the shaft. For purposes of adjustment of theroller 1 4, bearing 54 is moved up and down to a slight degree, i. e. inthis instance on each side of a normal center position. The other end ofthe shaft in the bearing 39 has no perceptible up and down motion but ispermitted to rock slightly in the bearing 31. As the radius is about110" from the center of bearing 54 to the center of bearing 51 and theswing is never much over g g on each side of the center of the arc ofswing, the rocking of the gear relatively to the gear 25 isimperceptible and causes no difficulty or noise or grinding in theoperation of the gear.

The shaft 36 is secured at the right end by a cap 55 which extendsoutwardly over the hub of the gear 52 and is attached to the end of theshaft by a cap screw 56. The shaft being supported at the left end byball bearing 54 within the hub of the gear 52, no provision for abearing of the shaft in the aperture 50 is necessary and this aperturemay be of excessive diameter and so is not necessarily eccentric,although it is pref erably so, to provide sufficient strength in thetubular housing 49 without excessive diameter.

In the operation of this adjustment the tubular bearing members 38 and49 are located in correspondence and are rotated simultaneously byoperation of the shaft 42 carrying the pinions 4i and 53 meshing withthe gears 40, 52. In adjusting the roller M the rotation of theeccentric bearing raises and lowers the right hand end of the tubularpresser roller I4 relatively to the adjacent end of the shaft 35 and tothe stationary elements of the machine, but the gear 25 has no up and/ordown motion. The rotation of shaft 42 also rotates the gear 52 and theeccentric bearing 54 which raises and lowers the left hand end of theshaft 36 in the present instance for the purposes of adjustment to thedifferent standard thicknesses of corrugated board 3%", above and belowthe normal center position of said shaft. The left hand end of thepresser roller l4 being directly supported on the shaft 35 adjacent thebearing 54 by the disk 48 is raised and lowered in direct correspondencewith the right hand end of said rollers, the eccentricity of thebearings 54 and 45 being of identical dimension and opposite, the longradius of one eccentric being above and the other below the axis, oneeccentric being inside and the other outside the member which it engagesand lifts. This gives a simultaneous raising and/or lowering of the twoends of the roller. The shaft 36 rocks relatively to roller [4 or viceversa by an angle represented by the length of the roll, 110 the radius,and the arc of swing at the end of the radius. This angle is so smallthat the rocking of the gear 26 is not perceptible and has no harmfuleffect on the operation of the gears 25 and 26 and causes no grinding.

The adjusting mechanism described is applied to each of the presserrollers l4, I8, 29 and 22 and to any rollers which it may be founddesirable to adjust in this way, the adjusting mechanism being indicatedin a general way in each instance by reference character 58, Figure l.The eccentrics are locked and the rolls are held in the desired positionof adjustment by clamping mechanism 51 illustrated in Figure 1 and morefully illustrated in the previous application referred to. This clampingmechanism consists in each instance of a split collar 59 encircling theshaft 42 and mounted on a flanged plate which plate is provided withlugs 6| which are bolted or otherwise secured to the hood or guard plate44 through which the ends of the shafts 42 project, the square ends 43being exposed for engagement by hand crank or wrench as alreadydescribed.

The split collars 59 are closed, each of them, by a bolt or screw stud62 by which they are tightened about the corresponding shaft 42 to holdthe adjusting mechanism and the rolls in the desired position ofadjustment. bolts 62 are operated by means of hand cranks 53, one ofwhich is secured to each bolt 62 beneath its head 64. It will beunderstood that the clamps 57 are loosened to release the pinion shafts42 for adjustment of the rollers and are The tension all) tightenedafter the adjustment to hold the parts in adjusted position.

Figures 5 and 6 illustrate an alternative form of roll adjustment whichhas certain principles and elements in common with the one justdescribed, but in which the position and alignment of the roll shaftaxes are not changed.

In this instance a presser roller l4 which corresponds to the roller M,is mounted on ball bearings 5'5 which are eccentrically related to atubular member 65 which carries the inner ball race 67 of the bearing65. This inner race 6'! is referred to as an eccentric member. The outerrace 68 is carried by the roller M which is preferably tubular or boredconcentrically with its outer surface as already described in connectionwith the first form of the invention. The tubular members 65 carryingeccentric members til are duplicated at each end of the roller. Thesemembers are mounted to be rotated in bearings 69 in the side framemembers I and 2t, and the said tubular members 66 are provided at theouter end of said tube resting on the outer surface of the frames I and2 with toothed gears '68 which are operated for purposes of adjustmentof rollers M by pinions II on the pinion shaft 22 which is also mountedin suitable bearings in the frame. The shaft M of the roller Hi ismounted near its ends in roller bearings 13 located inside the tubularmembers 66 and concentric therewith so that the center of the shaft 74is not shifted by adjustment of the roller. The races 6? areeccentrically located as to said tubular members 66, and said bearings59, the amount of eccentricity being as previously described inconnection with the first form of the invention and the two eccentricsat the two ends of the shaft are identically related as to the gears '10and shaft 12 in the operative assembly of the machine.

The roller shaft M is provided at its outer end outside of the frame lwith a drive gear 26 suitably keyed thereto and secured by means of acap 55, a similar cap it being provided outside the gear 7G to preventendwise play of the shaft.

The driving connection of the presser roller M with the roller shaft Mis effected by means of a hub H which is preferably mounted on the shaftit inside the roller and keyed to the shaft. This hub is also keyed tothe roller by means of keys i6 seated in slots 79 inside the roller andhaving a somewhat free engagement with slots 88 in the periphery of thehub which provides sufficient play to permit the roller to be adjustedup and down relatively to the shaft by means of said eccentric membersS! which in this instance are the inner ball races 61. However, itshould be understood that the elements described in connection with bothforms of the invention are capable of considerable variation and changeof design within the scope of the invention and without departure fromthe invention.

' The adjustment is clamped and operated as described in connection withthe previous form.

In the first form of adjustment the shaft of the roller being adjustedis rocked slightly about a transverse axis near its end, the drive gearbeing mounted on the shaft near said transverse axis so that it is notshifted transversely to the shaft axis but is rocked imperceptiblywithout effect on the operation of the gears. In the second inst ancethe shaft is not shifted at all and the axis of the drive gear isstationary giving no change of its driving relation to the gears withwhich it meshes. In both instances the roller is shifted relatively tothe shaft but in the first instance the driving end of the shaft when itis connected tothe roller moves with the roller, the roller beingshifted relatively to the end of the shaft which carries the drivinggear and which is substantially stationary except for rotation about itsaxis.

The manner of adjusting the rollers to adapt the machine to operation onpaper of difierent thicknesses has been fully described in connectionwith the description of the adjustments, it being understood that in thenormal operation, the adjustment of all the presser rollers would be thesame and the adjustments of all these rollers would be changed to thesame extent for each different adjustment of the machine.

The advantages of the invention providing adjustment of the rollers todifferent thicknesses of material without the necessity for slotting theframes and hence weakening them, making it possible to use frames ofmuch lighter construction than previously, have been fully pointed outin the preamble, the convenience, simplicity and accuracy of theadjustment being apparent from consideration of the construction andcomparison thereof with the previous structures. Other advantages of theinvention are that the centers of the driving gears remain stationary,making it unnecessary to provide intermediate gears for purposes ofadjustment and also that the centers of these gears not being changed,there is no change of pitch line and no grinding of the gears on accountof changes of adjustment. These points are of particularly greatimportance with high operating speeds now employed.

It is also an important advantage of the invention that the manner ofadjustment without changing the position of the center of the drive gearprovides for the use of dust casings and the like, or oil casings whichprotect the gears from the grit which accumulates. With this type ofadjustment there is no necessity for moving these oil casings when theposition of the rolls is to be changed and they can be made completelydustproof in the absence of adjusting slots.

It is also an advantage of the invention that by eliminating allbacklash it gives a smooth continuous drive with greatly increasedaccuracy as compared to other adjustments of the rolls on which thegears are moved and hence cause backlash.

I have thus described specifically and in detail the preferred and amodified form of the invention in order that the manner of constructing,applying, operating and using the invention may be fully understood,however, the specific terms herein are Used descriptively rather than ina limiting sense, the scope of the invention being defined in theclaims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a machine for operating on corrugated paper of differentthicknesses, having pairs of cooperating rollers, means for adjustingone roller of each pair, said roller having an axial chamber, a shaftfor said roller substantially coaxial therewith and bearing thereon adriving connection in said chamber connecting the shaft to the rollerproviding for radial motion of the roller relatively to the shaft,bearing members eccentrically related to the axis of the said shaftrotatively supporting said roller, means for rotating said eccentricbearing members to change the position of the axis of the roller in adirection transverse to said axis, one said bearing for said shafthaving a stationary axis and a driving gear on said shaft adjacent andsupported by said latter bearing.

2. The combination in a machine for operating upon paper of differentthicknesses for the production of box blanks of a pair of cooperatingrollers comprising a presser roller, eccentrically mounted rotatablebearing members adjacent the ends of said roller, bearing memberscarried by the roller rotating upon said eccentric bearing members, aroller shaft having a driving gear thereon and a driving connection tothe roller providing for radial motion of the roller relatively to theshaft, permitting the roller to be moved relatively to the shaft, theshaft having a supporting bearing, the axis of which is stationary, andwhich supports said driving gear, means for rotating said eccentricbearing members to adjust the roller transversely to its axis, and meansfor locking said adjustment.

3. In a printer slotter having a pull roller, a printing roller and ascoring roller, a presser roller cooperating with each said roller, andmeans for adjusting said presser rollers, each said presser rollerhaving an axial chamber, eccentrically mounted bearing members androtary bearing members rotating thereon supporting the presser roller, adrive shaft for each said roller extending into said chamber and havinga flexible driving connection with the roller in said chamber, a drivegear on said shaft, an axially fixed bearing for said shaft supportingsaid drive gear, means for rotating said eccentric members to adjustsaid roller in directions at right angles to said shaft, and means forholding said eccentric members in various positions of adjustment.

4. In a machine for operating on paper board of difierent thicknesses inconnection with the manufacture of box blanks, a series of pairs ofcooperating rollers, the rollers of each pair engaging said paper fromopposite sides, means for adjusting one roller of each pair, comprisingeccentrically mounted rotative bearing members for said rollers, bearingmembers rotating on said eccentric bearing members, and supported bysaid eccentric bearing members, said adjustable rollers being mounted onsaid second mentioned bearing members, a drive shaft for each adjustableroller having a drive gear thereon, a stationary bearing supporting eachsaid shaft adjacent its drive gear, and a drive connection from eachsaid shaft to the corresponding roller, said connection having ayielding engagement providing for motion of the roller in radialdirections relatively to said shaft and means for rotating saideccentric bearing members to adjust the position of the roller at rightangles to its axis and means for holding said eccentric bearing membersin various positions of adjustment.

5. In a machine for operating upon paper of different thicknesses in theproduction of box blanks, a plurality of pairs of rollers, the rollersof each pair engaging the paper from opposite sides and means foradjusting one roller of a plurality of said pairs, said adjustablerollers being hollow and having a shaft extending therethrough, a drivegear on said shaft externally of said roller, a bearing supporting saidshaft adjacent said gear, said bearing having a fixed axis, aneccentrically mounted bearing member adjacent said shaft bearing, theroll having a cooperating bearing member secured to the end of theroller and engaging said eccentric bearing member to rotatively supportthe end of the roller thereon, means for rotating said eccentric bearingmember to adjust the said end of the roller at right angles to the axis,the shaft having a drive connection to the said roller remote from saideccentric member, said driving connection permitting the shaft to rockslightly in the direction of its length relatively to said roller andthe roller being supported on the shaft remotely from said eccentricmember, an eccentrically mounted bearing supporting the shaft adjacentsaid point of support of the roller on the shaft, means for rotatingsaid eccentric bearing member which supports the shaft to adjust theroller at said point of support in the same direction that the other endof the roller is adjusted, and means for holding the adjusting elementsin various positions of adjustment.

6. In a machine for operating upon paper of different thicknessesperforming a step in the production of box blanks of a pair of rollersengaging the paper from opposite sides, means for adjusting one of saidrollers toward and from the other roller comprising bearing memberssupporting said adjustable roller and a shaft substantially concentrictherewith for driving said roller, and means for adjusting said bearingmembers transversely of said shaft relatively thereto to determine theadjusted position of said roller, a drive gear on the shaft and abearing having a substantially stationary axis supporting said shaft andsaid driving gear, and a flexible connection between said shaft andgear.

7. In a machine for operating upon paper of different thicknessesperforming a step in the production of box blanks of a pair of rollersengaging the paper from opposite sides, means for adjusting one of saidrollers toward and from the other roller comprising bearing memberssupporting said adjustable roller and a shaft substantially concentrictherewith for driving said roller, means for adjusting said bearingmembers transversely of said shaft and relatively thereto to determinethe adjusted position of said roller, a drive gear on the shaft, abearing having a substantially stationary axis supporting said shaft andsaid drive gear, and a driving connection between the roller and shafthaving play to maintain the driving relation and permit motion of theroller radially of the shaft.

8. In a machine for operating upon corrugated paper of differentthicknesses, a pair of rollers engaging the paper from opposite sides inthe performance of a step in the manufacture of box blanks, means foradjusting one of said rollers toward and from the other roller for thepurpose stated, said adjustable roller having a drive shaft, a drivingconnection from said shaft to the roller providing free motion of theroller transversely of the shaft and vice versa, a bearing for theroller adjacent one end, means for adjusting said bearing transverselyof the shaft axis, a bearing for the shaft adjacent said roller bearingand a drive gear on the shaft supported by said shaft bearing, a bearingfor the shaft adjacent the opposite end of the roller, means foradjusting said bearing in correspondence with the adjustment of theroller bearing, the roller being supported on the shaft adjacent saidlatter shaft bearing.

THOMAS S. FITCHETT.

